Basic Guitar Question?

Question:When I'm switching from chord to chord, I pause for a slight second so I can get to the next chord, which obviously I know is not correct. The question is am I supposed to move faster or do I strum the open strings in between moving my fingers? That's what it looks like they are doing, or are they just moving over fast? Thank you again and I think you guys are awesome.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: When I'm switching from chord to chord, I pause for a slight second so I can get to the next chord, which obviously I know is not correct. The question is am I supposed to move faster or do I strum the open strings in between moving my fingers? That's what it looks like they are doing, or are they just moving over fast? Thank you again and I think you guys are awesome.

The answer is two-fold:

1. you don't want to stop the right hand strumming rhythm in order to get to the next chord change as those pauses throw your timing off, which is a Very Bad Thing, especially if you ever hope to play with other people.
2. you don't want to strum the open strings in between getting from one chord fingering to the next, because that generally sounds like crap.

Clearly then, the answer is to learn to move your fingers FASTER and accurately to get from one chord to the next smoothly and cleanly, no matter how fast the chord changes are happening.

Most newbie guitarists have a tendency to change chords by moving and placing one finger at a time, and also tend to lift their fingers way up off the strings higher than they need to. Both of these habits tend to slow you down. Whereas if you watch more experienced guitarists, what they do is lift their fingers off the strings only just enough to move them (keep the fingertips as close to the strings as possible so that you don't have as far to travel to bring them back down again), AND also form the desired chord shape in the air over the strings and bring all the fingers down onto the strings at once. Forming the chord shape in the air over the strings requires LOTS and LOTS of practice to develop the muscle memory, so that when you think "C chord", for instance, your left hand fingers automatically assume the position, so to speak, instead of having to stop and think where each finger goes -- "OK. third finger, 5th string 3rd fret.....second finger, 4th string 2nd fret.....third string open....first finger 2nd string 1st fret.....first string open....STRUM"

In addition, check to make sure you're not strangling the neck of the guitar in a vise-grip by pressing the strings down too hard with a tensed up left hand. Your fretting hand should be as relaxed as possible and pressing the strings down just hard enough to get a clean clear note. Anything more than that is wasted energy that, again, will slow you down, tire you out, and make it harder for you to change chords quickly, as you first have to unclench your tensed-up fretting hand, move your fingers, and than clamp back down with stiff tensed hand muscles. Not good. Learn to relax!

you strum the open strings inbetween your fingers. when you that, they move faster to speed up the sound =) hope it helped

Just keep your strumming going, keep practicing and soon you won't have that gap

It took me 6 months to work out the whole switching thing, don't worry, you're not alone!

You are only pausing because you are not advanced enough to change chords quickly, so yes, you'll have to move faster. Do NOT strum the open strings for any reason. Better to stop strumming than to play the open strings. Eventually, what you will learn is that you strum on the downbeat and change chords on the upbeat.

And yes, you are correct. Even if it looks like they are strumming, they are not touching the strings. Sort of like that quote,

"The wheel is turning, but the hampster is dead."

Hang in there. It's just a matter of time and practice.

Kabum

Dude,persistance pays off.If you keep workin' it,you'll get better.You gotta want it,nobody can manipulate thoe fingers but you....

You have to move and place your fingers on the next chord simultaneously with no inbetween strumming or wtv. Practice changing chords , especially those of different fingerings so that you can move about smoothly and transparently.

There is no secret to this. If you pause , it's because you are not able to finger quick enough which is the key to good chording.